Texas DUI Penalties | Consequences of Drunk Driving in Texas : Jail Time, Fines, License Suspension

First Texas DWI:

• Imprisonment: 72 hours - 6 months
• Fine: Up to $2,000
• Community Service: 24 - 100 hours
• Drug / Alcohol Evaluation: Required
• DUI Education: Required
• Victim Impact Panel: Required
• Driver's License Suspension: 90 days - 1 year. May be eligible for Hardship Permit
• Ignition Interlock Device: May be ordered
• Conviction Based Surcharge: $1,000 for three consecutive years. If at the time that you are arrested you have a BAC of .16 or higher, then you will be required to pay $1,500 a year for three years. 

Second Texas DWI: 

• Imprisonment: 30 days - 1 year
• Fine: Up to $4,000
• Community Service: 80 - 200 hours
• Drug / Alcohol Evaluation: Required
• DUI Education: Required
• Victim Impact Panel: Required
• Driver's License Suspension: 180 days - 2 years. May be eligible for Hardship Permit
• Ignition Interlock Device: Required
• Conviction Based Surcharge: $1,500 for three consecutive years. If at the time that you are arrested you have a BAC of .16 or higher, then you will be required to pay $2,000 a year for three years. 

Third or Subsequent Texas DWI (Felony):

• Imprisonment: 2 - 10 years
• Fines: Up to $10,000
• Community Service: 160 - 600 hours
• Driver's License Suspension: 180 days - 2 years. May be eligible for Hardship Permit
• Drug / Alcohol Evaluation: Required
• DUI Education: Required
• Victim Impact Panel: Required
• Ignition Interlock Device: Required
• Conviction Based Surcharge: $1,500 for three consecutive years. If at the time that you are arrested you have a BAC of .16 or higher, then you will be required to pay $2,000 a year for three years. 

Texas DUI Laws - Relevant Statutes

• Texas Penal Code
  • 49.031 Possession of alcoholic beverage in motor vehicle
  • 49.04 Driving While Intoxicated
  • 49.045 Driving while intoxicated with child passenger
  • 49.05 Flying while intoxicated
  • 49.06 Boating while intoxicated
  • 49.065 Assembling or operating an amusement ride while intoxicated
  • 49.07 Intoxication Assault
  • 49.08 Intoxication Manslaughter
  • 49.09 Enhanced offenses and penalties
• Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code
  • 106.041 Driving or operating watercraft under the influence of alcohol by a minor
  • 106.071 Punishment for alcohol-related offense by minor
  • 106.12 Expungement of conviction of a minor
  • 106.115 Attendance at alcohol awareness course; license suspension
• Texas Code of Criminal Procedure
• Texas Transportation Code
  • Title 7 Vehicles and Traffic
    • Subtitle B Driver's Licenses and Personal Identification Cards
      • Chapter 521 Driver's Licenses and Certificates
        • Subchapter J Persons Ineligible for License
          • 521.201 License eligibility in general
          • 521.202 Ineligibility for license based on certain convictions
        • Subchapter L Occupational Licenses
          • 521.246 Ignition Interlock Device Requirement
          • 521.247 Approval of ignition interlock devices by Department
          • 521.2465 Restricted license
        • Subchapter O Automatic Suspension
          • 521.341 Requirements for automatic license suspension
          • 521.342 Person under 21 years of age
          • 521.343 Period of suspension; extension
          • 521.344 Suspension for offenses involving intoxication
          • 521.345 Suspension on order of Juvenile Court or on order of court based on alcoholic beverage violation by minor
        • Subchapter S Miscellaneous Offenses
      • Chapter 522 Commercial Driver's Licenses
        • Subchapter H Disqualification from driving commercial motor vehicles
        • Subchapter I Driving While Having Alcohol, Controlled Substance, or Drug in System
      • Chapter 524 Administrative Suspension of Driver's License for Failure to Pass Test for intoxication
        • Subchapter B Suspension Determination and Notice
        • Subchapter C Suspension Provisions
        • Subchapter D Hearing and Appeal
          • 524.031 Hearing request
          • 524.032 Hearing date; rescheduling
        • Subchapter E Reinstatement and Reissuance of Driver's License
    • Subtitle D Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility
    • Subtitle I Enforcement of Traffic Laws
      • 708.102 Surcharge for conviction of certain intoxicated driver offenses
    • Subtitle J Miscellaneous Provisions
      • Chapter 724 Implied Consent
        • Subchapter A General Provisions
        • Subchapter B Taking and analysis of specimen
        • Subchapter C Suspension or Denial of License on Refusal of Specimen
        • Subchapter D Hearing
        • Subchapter E Admissibility of Evidence
• Texas Administrative Code
  • Subchapter A Administrative License Revocation

The skilled Texas DUI lawyers on this site can help you with all aspects of your drunk driving arrest including: further information on DUI penalties, fines, and consequences, administrative driver's license suspension or revocation, Under 21 DUI Drunk Driving and Zero Tolerance Laws, SR-22 insurance, DUI School, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Victim Impact Panels, how to beat a DUI, Ignition Interlock Devices, SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Monitoring Device, DUI Expungement, DUI Diversion, Community Service, and all other issues surrounding your Texas Drunk Driving DUI Arrest.

Texas DUI Attorneys can help fight for your Rights following a DUI arrest in Abilene, Amarillo, Arlington, Austin, Bay City, Baytown, Beaumont, Brownsville, Bryan-College Station, Carrolton, Clear Lake, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Denton, El Paso, Fort Worth, Frisco, Galveston, Garland, Grand Prairie, Houston, Huntsville, Irving, Katy, Killeen, Laredo, Longview, Lubbock, McAllen, McKinney, Mesquite, Midland, Odessa, Pasadena, Plano, Port Arthur, Richardson, Round Rock, San Antonio, Sugar Land, Tomball, Tyler, Victoria, Waco, Wichita Falls or anywhere else in Texas.